Bonsai Notebookwww.austinbonsaisociety.com

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A Publication of the Austin Bonsai Society April 2014 vol 40

Calendar of EventsApril 9 ABS Monthly Meeting Photography Improvements Reception Hosts: Catherine Robertson and Joey McCoy Zilker Garden Center 7:00 pm

April 10-13 LSBF Texas State Bonsai Convention Houston, Texas

April 15 ABS Monthly Workshop Bring Your Own Project Zilker Garden Center 7:00 - 9:00 pm

May 17-18 ABS Annual Show and Sale Zilker Garden Center

April 2014 Programsby Jimbo Baumann

Photography Improvements withJoey McCoy, John Muller, &

Lizzie Chen

Bonsai is such a visual medium that taking good photos is really important in capturing that moment.

At the April 9th meeting we will have a three-part program helping people to use photography better in this art.

Joey McCoy will talk about photographing your Bonsai at home - the best way to document and chart the changes and improvements to our trees. John Muller will discuss photography of Bonsai at our shows and exhibits; don’t go home from convention again with blurry, muddy pictures, but rather have a great collection of photos of trees to enjoy and share with others. Lizzie Chen will talk about photography at special events and demonstrations where capturing the moment and telling the story of the program can be improved in pictures.

ABS monthly meeting of propagation andgrafting with Bill Boytim

(Photo by Joey McCoy)

Austin Bonsai SocietyBoard of Directors

Nan JenkinsPresident

Jimbo BaumannVice President

Angelina HewesSecretary

Pat WareTreasurer

Russell Kohlert Member at-Large

Zerita RogersMember at-Large

Deb Van CleafMember at-Large

Past PresidentMike Watson

The rate of advertising in “Bonsai Notebook” is $6.00 per month or $35.00 per year, for two column inches minimum. Additional space must be purchased in incre-ments of two column inches. Two column inches measure approximately 3 1/2 inches wide by 2 inches high. All ads must be camera ready and prepaid. Changes to ads must be received 30 days prior to the month of the desired insertions. Other newsletter content is due on the last day of the month, in order to be published in the next month’s newsletter.

Lizzie Chen is the editor of “Bonsai Notebook”. She may be contacted at lizziechen09@gmail.com

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Austin Bonsai on the InternetOnline discussions

Picture and video sharingQuestions and answers

Upcoming eventsNO SPAM

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/austinbonsai/or

jvmccoy@sbcglobal.net.

Hello Everyone,

The leaves are all coming out on my trees, and every-thing looks so fresh and beautiful. The bougainvilleas are in full bloom, the redbuds are putting on blooms, and the bright red leaves on the Japanese maple thrill me. It looks like we only lost a few trees with this crazy winter. I think it was the last time it got into the 20’s since they looked good before that. I lost more landscaping plants than trees. My butterfly garden may not have any of the flowering plants come back. :-(

There is a lot of trimming to be done. I did some of it at the Zilker Festival yesterday. I got courageous and did some big trims on three little trees. So I’m starting over on those. I love going to the festival. It is a fun day to talk to many people to spread the word about bonsai. We have several members whose first contact was at the festival.

Now I’m packing for Houston and the state con-vention. It is like a great training institute, a family reunion as we see folks we haven’t seen for a year, going to a living museum with wonderful trees in the exhibit, with all of that in a bonsai mall where you can buy to your heart’s content and financial limit. How can it be any better? Well, maybe at the national or worldwide conventions!

This month we are working on photography at our meeting and workshop. I’m wanting to find out how to deal with those pesky shadows that ruin my pictures. All the presenters know how to take great pictures, so this is an opportunity you will not want to miss!

Keep working on the trees you are going to put in the exhibit. It’s only a month and a half away. See you on the 12th. Happy Bonsaiing!

-Nan

President’s Messageby Nan Jenkins

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ph: 512-989-5831 e-mail: mbpbonsai@suddenlink.net 601 Kay Lane Pflugerville, TX 78660 (call for directions)

Importers, Retail & WholesaleYour source for:

High quality Yagimitsu & Ryukoh toolsOrganic Bonsai Fertilizers

Imported and Domestic TreesBonsai Pottery, Soils and supplies

Classes & SeminarsOpen Tuesday Through Sunday

e-mail: bonsaijg@gmail.com web page: http://www.bonsaiexhibittexas.com

JADE GARDENSHOME OF

Chuck & Pat Ware 12404 Ranch Road 12 Owners Wimberley, TX 78676 Visa & MasterCard (512) 847-2514

ABS Board Meeting MinutesMarch 18, 2014

Present: Nan Jenkins, Pat Ware, Deborah Van Cleaf, Russell Kohlert, Jimbo Baumann, Angie Hewes

Nan called to order: 7:07 pm.

Treasurer Report: Paid for garden fest tickets and $200 donation to Garden Council. We’re still $553.55 ahead. A few more people might join.

Jonathan Wood agreed to be emerging artist for Houston Convention. ABS will refund his registration after the convention.

The September 9th workshop with Peter Tea was dis-cussed. We are still looking for location for the work-shop.

Next month’s program was discussed. This will be on photography – Joey, John and Lizzie will present on how to take great pictures of your trees.

There are 43 ABS members so far. This includes 4 new members.

Pat discussed the possibility of having Walter Pall, the famous German longtime Bonsai artist to do a program for our Christmas Party. His talents would be shared by the San Antonio Bonsai society and ABS would split the cost of his airfare with them. Motion was made to have a budget increase for the December 10 Christmas Party to $1175 to pay to have Walter Pall do a presentation.The motion was passed.

Adjourned: 7:52 pmAngie Hewes, Secretary

https://www.facebook.com/AustinBonsaiSociety

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ABS General Meeting MinutesMarch 12, 2014

7:33 pm Nan Jenkins – Welcome, Have a small group tonight.

Introduced guests:Judith SolizArthur BryanScott Bryan – New member

Audrey, Elaine and Zerita provided refreshments - Thanks

Registration information for Houston convention available on front table for interested members. LSBF – Brochure comes on line also.

Alisan talked about the upcoming Garden Show on the last weekend of the month. Volunteer T-shirt color will be purple. She encouraged people to bring trees for green room. Bonsai books will be available.

Nan next discussed ABS’s new Membership Directory and the important information it contains: Board members, Calendar of events, Bylaws and how we function by the these rules, hosts for meetings and programs, a brief history of ABS as well as the current membership. There is also a library list of books available for members to check out.

A page for members to add to their Membership Directory was passed out:Article III. Section 6: The Texas State Bonsai ExhibitA. Members in good standing of Austin Bonsai Society are voting members of TTSBE.

Nan pointed out that the membership will be voting on this new item next month. She asked for questions. There were none.

Jimbo Bauman was next on program. He talked about the root over rock project done last month. He mentioned that he would be available for anyone interested in rock hunting to let him know. He knows some good spots to find rocks for a root over rock project.

Next on the program Jimbo introduced Bill Boytim who has great resources for teaching and talking about propaga-tion. He was also a master gardener at one time.

Bill began by saying he would be going over some basics on genus and species and recommended to look up methods in books. A good source of material for propagation is by getting cuttings from conventions where people are work-ing on their trees. Grab their cuttings. Some hardwood plants are patented. They are not good moneymakers for sale. You should honor the patent.Bill discussed the need to adjust times for your area.

Sexual – by seeds – carried in wind, clothes, pets. Keep area isolated to prevent cross pollination.

Asexual – cuttings, stem or root; grafting; layering – air and ground, remains attached to mother plant; tissue culture – can cure a lot of diseases,

Seeds – most popular – they are the cheapest, can be longest for Bonsai development, they are not always true to par-ent (cross pollination), hybrids are not true seeds, can be frustrating.

Angie Hewes, Secretary

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2014 LSBF ConventionEast Meets West

April 10 – 13, 2014Marriott Westchase hotel in Houston, Texas

CONVENTION TIME IS NEAR!!! As you read this report, we will have only a few days left before the 2014 LSBF Convention. Here are some convention updates and a few events that you will want to attend. Convention Informa-tion and Registration Forms can be found at www.houstonbonsai.com.

Thursday Evening “Early Bird” ReceptionCome early and visit with friends and vendors, and support the budding artists in The Emerging Talent Competition. Each LSBF club will have one representative competing. This event is hosted by Convention Co-Chairs JoAnn and David Batey. All food and drinks will be provided, free of charge.

We hope vendors will be moved-in and ready to open by 6:00 PM. This is the time for best picking for those planning to make some early buys. Those who signed up for the sold out Azalea Workshop may need to come early to choose an azalea to work on in that workshop.

Workshops Some workshops are nearly full. The Azalea workshop led by David Kreutz was sold out two weeks ago but he has started a waiting list. There are still spaces in some other workshops. Do not forget the Bring-Your-Own-Tree work-shops. These are excellent opportunities to get some expert input from bonsai teachers on existing trees in your collec-tion.

Special Workshops & Demonstrations Two of HBS own artists Alex Leong and Scott Barboza will present.

Scott Barboza, a rare artist and scientist, will enlighten us on The Characteristics of Soil Substrates such as water retention and drainage, and how they are influenced by the selection and combination of various components. Since many masters believe the Living Art of Bonsai is 70% horticulture and 30% art, this is a lecture and hands-on demon-stration not to be missed by all bonsai lovers.

Alex Leong, an Asian trained artist in many media, will demonstrate the Lingnan Method, a Chinese Clip & Grow ap-proach to styling bonsai. Alex will also conduct a Bring-Your-Own-Tree workshop with two remaining spaces.

Frank Mihalic, a second generation Bonsai Artist, will hold a unique Make Your Own Sterling Silver Pendant work-shop. You will learn to create jewelries with the lost wax method, but your creativity does not need to be limited to Bonsai. A few spaces remain. More Raffle Item Donations NeededAs you know, the raffles are the main fund raising events at conventions. Raffles are also the most important way for LSBF to raise money for the functions and activities for club members in the state. Five raffles are planned.

Our Raffle Chair, Terry Dubois, needs more donations of raffle items. He will accept “almost anything“ and bonsai related items (pots, books, magazines, turntables, tools, tool bags, and trees/plants). Almost anything would be Asian decorations, antiques, non-plant related books, alarm clocks, hand-carved elephant tusk, cars, boats… well, you get the idea. We appreciate and will raffle just about anything you can donate.

Please let Terry know in advance ( 281-797-0924 or Tdubois1@comcast.net ), what you plan to bring to the conven-tion so he can keep a spreadsheet of those items and print labels for each one. A description and measurements of all pieces, including bonsai and pre-bonsai trees as well as their suggested value would help him better organize the vari-ous raffles. Please bring all donations to Terry at the Convention on Thursday April 10th, before 6:00 PM.

The Convention Exhibit The convention will feature an outstanding exhibit of bonsai. Please plan on bringing one or more of your bonsai, Su-iseki and Shohin for display. There will be an area reserved for the Shohin Society of Texas. You may also bring your own bonsai stands, accent plants or scrolls to display your items, or to loan for use in the exhibit. Please make sure all materials and plants have a discreet label with your name and club on it.

Send the completed Exhibit Display Form in the Registration Packet, in advance, to the Exhibit Chair Alan Raymond, at amraymond@suddenlink.net or 832-866-9546. All items destined for the Exhibit should arrive at the Convention on Thursday April 10th, before 6:00 PM.

Exhibit Critiques by Featured Artists All three headliners Arthur Joura, David DeGroot and Pedro Morales who have been teaching the Art of Bonsai for decades, will each conduct a critique of the entire exhibit at different times. Convention attendees may follow each artist as he moves throughout the exhibit, pointing out the “the good, the bad, and the ugly” in materials on display. These are very valuable learning opportunities that will help improve your personal collections. Check the Schedule of Events and plan on participating in these teachers’ critiques.

Saturday Night Auction The auction following our Saturday evening dinner is a fun “fund” event. Bonsai trees (in bonsai pots) and other related items worth at least $100 will be available for bidding. The Auction will be conducted by two professional and experienced auctioneers, Vincent Montalbano and Howard Smith, VP of LSBF. Get ready for these hilariously cool entertainers! This is an excellent way to support LSBF and sell some of your bonsai trees and related items that you want to pass along.

The proceeds from each auctioned item will be split 80% to the sellers and 20% to LSBF Convention. So, look at your bonsai collection, select some items that you are ready to part with and bring them to the convention for auction. Reg-istration of auction items will take place on Saturday morning and the items for bid will be displayed for inspection Saturday afternoon, up to auction time that evening. For additional information and questions, contact the Convention General Chair, Donald Green at donald.green12@att.net or 713-771-1442.

More Volunteers Needed The success of conventions rests solely in the hands of volunteers. Please donate your energy, time, talents and exper-tise in helping with activities such as registration, setting up raffles, selling raffle tickets, setting up and assisting in workshops, collecting dinner tickets, monitoring the exhibit etc.

Sign up with the Committee Chairs at our April club meeting and pick up name tags at the registration desk. Out of town volunteers are also welcome. We always need your expertise from past conventions. All volunteers will have the privilege of observing any of the workshops without paying the observation fee.

The Convention Planning Committee looks forward to welcoming all of you to the 2014 LSBF/HBS convention in Houston. We are confident that you will enjoy your stay at the recently renovated Marriott Westchase Hotel.

See you in April at the convention!!

Donald GreenGeneral Chair of LSBF 2014 Convention

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April Bonsaiby John Miller

Editor’s Note: John Miller, who writes a monthly column for the Bon-sai Society of Dallas and the Fort Worth Bonsai Society, has agreed to share his column with us. We need to make adjustments for our warmer, climate, with its early springs, long summers, late falls and erratic winters.

Although the average last freeze in Dallas-Ft Worth is in the last part of March, you should remember that it is an average--half the time it will occur later. And a frost can occur at temperatures well above 32, especially on a calm clear pre-dawn. A light cover will usually protect from frost.

Repotting of deciduous trees should be pretty much over. Some slow species like oaks may be slow in coming out and could be repotted. Broad leaved evergreens, such as the hollies, usually start growth a little later and may still be repotted when their buds swell. Conifers and other evergreens should be in active growth and therefore not repotted. Newly re-potted trees should not be wired until they show they have recovered.

Any trees that have wire on them should be watched very closely during the spring flush of growth. Branches and twigs can expand pretty rapidly and result in the wire cutting into the branch. Watch es-pecially the junction of the branch with the trunk or a larger branch. Remove the wire if it is cutting into the branch and rewire if needed.

General care for all species is pretty much the same at this time. Feed, prune, and look out for insects and other pathogens.

What kind of fertilizer you use is not as important as that you use it right. Plants would like a small amount of nourishment to be available all the time. For bonsai, the best way to supply it is by using organic fertilizer cakes on the surface. They release nutrients each time you water and are held by the particles such as pumice to be used all day. Water soluble fertilizers are fairly good but the next wa-tering will wash the remaining nutrients out. You would have to water with it daily using a very dilute solution. Some organic fertilizers like bat guano or chicken manure release too much nutrients at once

(are too hot). Many lawn and garden fertilizers are the same. Whichever you use be sure to follow directions.

Feeding needs to be done judicially. A lot of ni-trogen will push the new flush of growth too much but with no fertilizer you will get foliage with poor color that lasts all year. The organic fertilizer balls are the best solution. You can add a few at the start and increase them as the foliage matures. If you use chemicals be sure to follow directions and too use them lightly at first. Also be sure to get a brand with the minor elements listed. Commercial water soluble fertilizers wash out with the next watering and result in poorly fed pale bonsai.

Most trees will do good in the fully sun at this time of year. However, if you have had them in partial shade be careful about giving them full sun. They probably should be acclimated gradually.

Whether you use the organic or chemical spray, the trick is to be sure to thoroughly cover the plant including all the leaf axils. Use a hand or pump up sprayer to get a fine mist spray to cover all surfaces, a hose end sprayer does not cover good enough.

Fungal diseases develop during warm humid weath-er. Too much foliage misting can do it also if the leaves stay damp very long. One of the most preva-lent fungus is leaf spot which will hit several kinds of plants especially elms, hollies, and roses. Con-trol consists of spraying with baking soda. A 1% solution of Hydrogen Peroxide can be used except on very young foliage which may be sensitive to it.

Remember when pruning that there is no one-size-fits-all, even on the same species. First of all, formation pruning is when you are doing the initial styling of the tree. In most cases you are trying to grow new branches requiring you to have the branches grow long. After the tree has been styled, you then need to do ramification pruning to develop twiginess and a patina of old age. To properly prune you need to know how they grow and to re-member that new twigs, even in the far future, break from the internodes so keep them short.

On elms and other trees with leaves appearing alter-

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nately down the shoot, the first leaves are smaller and internodes short. As the shoot grows, leaves get larger and the internodes get wider. For develop-mental you can let these branches grow long to get thick and then cut back, leaving a few short inter-nodes to sprout future branches, and regrow. For ramification let grow to 4-5 leaves and trim the last two. Repeat on the new twigs.

On maples and others with leaves coming in pairs on opposite sides of the twig, the bud send out a stalk with two leaves on the end. The length of this stalk will be the first internode. As the leaves open a new growing tip emerges and this process contin-ues. As the new tip elongates the first stalk keeps elongating also until the third new tip breaks. This creates long internodes on the developing branch. If the second tip is removed as soon as it emerges the first stalk stops growing and two new twigs will develop from the first set of leaves.

For formation pruning on opposite leaved species, you must work to get short internodes near the trunk then later let the branch grow for thickening. Af-ter the first set of leaves emerges, pinch the tip of the next set of leaves before they actually become leaves. Pointed tweezers are the best tool for this job as you want to get the growth when it just starts to emerge. Use this same technique through three sets of leaves, after which you can let the newly cre-ated branches grow to thicken. Each pinch results in two new leaf sets, creating shorter nodes to gener-ate future branches. When the desired primary and secondary branches branches have been grown, the ramification is achieved by pinching the tip from each set of leaves as it grows thereby doubling the number of twigs each time. This can be a big job on a large maple, but is necessary to get the desired result.

Be sure to check your soils each day for proper water content. It is easy to assume that the soil has plenty of water when the days are cool or there has been some rain. Its too easy for a tree with full leaves to shed water outside of the pot or a good sun and low humidity after a front to dry the soil. I suggest that you remove most of the moss so that you can see and feel the soil in order to determine

how dry it is. (Moss growing on the trunk or roots will cause the bark to rot also) An automatic water-ing system will be an aid but you should not rely on it to replace hand watering. Hand watering allows you to adjust the watering for each tree individually.

NEW MEMBERSScott Bryan

2901 Barton Skyway #1310Austin, TX 78746

Mark Householder1611 W. 5th Street, Austin, Tx. 78703

Zel Heaney14757 Montoro

Austin, Tx.

Carl and Noreen Quisenberry 8205 Beaver Brook Ln

Austin, TX 78748

Photoby

Joey Mc CoyUrban Dig

March 16

Urban dig with the club on March 16, 2014. The collected Dwark Yaupons, Ligustrums, and more.

Pruning, wiring and shaping at Tuesday’s open workshop. Nilda, Angie and Nan here.Photo by Joey McCoy

The Austin Bonsai Society is a nonprofit organization which exists to help in providing guidance and education for individuals in their desire to learn and expand their knowledge and skill in the arts of bonsai.

The Society holds regular meetings, twelve months a year, on the second Wednesday of each month. Our social period begins at 7:00 PM, followed by our program at 7:30 PM. Normally, unless announced otherwise, these meetings are held in the Zilker Garden Center building, located on Barton Springs Road in Zilker Park, Austin, Texas. We offer a monthly program of interest to the general membership.

The cost of membership is presently only $30.00 for an individual and $35.00 for a family membership.

For additional information, please contact the Austin Bonsai Society at P.O. Box 340474, Austin, Texas 78734

Austin Bonsai SocietyP.O. Box 340474Austin, Texas 78734

Bonsai Notebook

Spotlight of the Month(Photo by John Muller)